Closed for the holidays? Why not give something back to those in need. Instead of putting your order on hold, our Donate-A-Crate program lets you send your fresh fruit to a worthy non-profit organization in your area serving those less fortunate than ourselves. In 2008, FruitGuys clients donated more than 180 crates to food-banks and programs for families in need between the Thanksgiving and New Years holidays. Crates went to The Riley Center, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Project Open Hand, Yeah!, and the Sophia Project in the San Francisco Bay Area; to Philabundance and City Harvest on the East Coast; and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Click here for a list of the organizations in your area or choose a charity of your choice in close proximity to one of our regional hubs in San Francisco, Chicago, or Philadelphia. No additional delivery charge
Heroes
Donate-A-Crate
Monday, December 7th, 2009
To Autumn
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Just as plants employ the cycle of photosynthesis and respiration to convert light, air, and water into energy and back again into CO2, so go the cycles of farming seasons. Seed to sprout to fruit to compost to soil to seeds again. Every culture’s agricultural calendar takes into account times of abundance and times for fields to lay fallow. Fallow fields aren’t lazy. Under a blanket of clover, they are gathering up nitrogen in the soil to feed the next season’s crop.
A farmer’s seasons are like rhythmic breathing each year: a lung bursting inhale starts with the summer harvest and is exhaled in a long egressive ssssssssss in December. From selecting strawberries to surprise rain, from seeing the first Gravenstein apples at sunrise to sorting and sampling the harvest, to snapping together boxes and bringing crops to market, it is all part of the big breath that takes us to the end of one season and on the next.
To take the full measure of the fall exhalation, and the bounty of fall harvest, consider the season’s colors on your table. Pumpkin orange Fuyu Persimmons, ruby red Pomegranate seeds, and bright yellow-orange Clementine segments have the same beautiful jewel tones of Vermont at leaf peak. The fruits, just like autumn leaves, turn brilliant colors when the chilly weather unmasks the anthocyanins and carotenoids in their plant cells. Sugar, brilliant color, and nutrients have all burst out in joyful exclamation of flavor after a long season of work.
- Heidi Lewis
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
To Autumn by John Keats
What’s the buzz?
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Fresh news from the field! New FruitGuys videos on our website show an exciting demonstration of how to set up a bee hive. As part of the FruitGuys Farm Steward Program, we donated four hives to Gabriel Farm. Bees are extremely fascinating and such a vital part of our world – we’re sure you’ll enjoy this rare look into getting bees established. Doug Vincent makes it look so easy!
Additionally, click over to our Meet the Farmer pages for a fresh interview with Patrick DeYoung of Blue Moon Organics in Aptos, CA. Farmers Patrick and Greg grow the organic strawberries in the West Coast FruitCases this month.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us toll-free at 1-877-FRUIT-ME or contact Customer Service via email.
Worldwide Wellness – Making a Difference
Friday, November 20th, 2009Congratulations to our fabulous farmer friend and environmental steward, Allen Harthorn of Harpo Organics, who grows succulent organic Valencia oranges in Ventura County.
Allen Harthorn and wife, Pamela, have transitioned his grandfather’s ranch into a certified organic farm. In addition to being on the board of California Certified Organic Farms, Allen has served as president of Friends of Butte Creek, stewards of the salmon habitat located there.
The FruitGuys has been working with Allen for the last two years and we are now proud to bring you his good news: “The salmon are running!”
Allen lives near Chico and Butte Creek runs through his property. Allen is an active environmental advocate who has lead a movement to protect local salmon. This year, his success is important in that while the majority of California is seeing a decrease in the salmon population, the Chinook salmon of Butte Creek have been returning to their spawning grounds on Butte Creek in record numbers.
Future generations of Butte Creek salmon can thank Allen and the Friends of Butte Creek for the vigilance and care he has brought to the habitat for nearly a decade.
Allen has been President of the Friends of Butte Creek since 1999, and as a fly fishing guide, he knows his waters well. In 2002, he spotted a devastating sediment spill from a PG&E powerhouse on Butte Creek that suffocated many of the fish. Since then, he and the Friends have been at work with PG&E, coordinating with local farmers regarding run-off as well as with various agencies to remove obstacles to the salmon. Their efforts are paying off. Friends of Butte Creek is a formidable group watching over the re-licensing of the PG&E DeSabla-Centerville Project. Its robust website is chock-full of information, statistics and reports — even a live fish-cam.
We recently contacted Allan to check if the recent wild fires posed any threat to the fish habitat. “The fire did not get down to the creek anywhere thanks to firefighters and local residents. Maintaining a buffer between the burned areas and the creek is essential to prevent any erosion. So far so good.” said Allen.
Another crisis was averted on Wednesday July 2nd when 350 salmon were hand carried out of warmer pools where they got stuck and then trucked up stream to cooler pools. Caring neighbors and creek watchers alerted the California Department of Fish & Game to this desperate situation once again proving the power of concerned communities working together on watershed matters affecting our community, the environment, and the world around us. View pictures of the rescue here.
It’s amoré!
Chinook are anadromous, which means they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, migrate to the ocean for feeding and growth, and return to their natal waters to spawn.
What’s Fresh in the East
Friday, November 20th, 2009How many people say “worth two in the bush!” when they enter the town limits of Bird-in-Hand in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania? We don’t know. Benn, The FruitGuys’ East Coast buyer, is headed into Bird-in-Hand to talk with Kauffman’s Fruit Farm, a 5th generation orchard and market, about their sweet yellow peaches. They have hundreds of varieties of stone-fruit and apples.
Workplace Wellness Focus – Firefighters
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Through this soggy and smokey summer, firefighters have been in our hearts and on our minds. As the Mississippi rose and wildfires ravaged California, we all saw our nation’s rescue workers pressed to the max. Who can forget the many pictures of exhausted smoke-jumpers?
All segments of the firefighting community, Forest Service, volunteer or career firefighters have special fitness needs for on-the-job stress and physical endurance. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death among members of this treacherous profession. “It takes a person with heart to do your job. Keep it strong,” says the National Volunteer Fire Council website.
August 18 – 22 is National Firefighter Health Week. Stations across the country are taking time to educate themselves and assess their fitness goals. Career firefighters, some with 24 hour straight shifts, usually get one hour for exercise per shift. Volunteer outfits rely on creative solutions for their fitness needs. Some municipalities offer their firefighters a gym membership. Most volunteers drill rescue scenarios one-night a week, which offers some physical effort.
The FruitGuys became acquainted with the Hermosa Beach Firefighter’s Association when an anonymous donor contacted us wanting to supply the firefighters with fresh fruit. It turns out the well intentioned civilians of Hermosa Beach send their valued firefighters many dozens of cookies. Although it’s a very generous offer from grateful community members, tons of sweets don’t fall in line with a firefighter’s nutrition goals.
To assist in the firefighter fitness program, the FruitGuys have sent them fire engine red pedometers.
If you would like to make a weekly or bi-weekly donation of heart healthy fruit to your local fire station, it is best to call us with the name of the chief or administrator.
Email or call us at 1-877-FRUIT-ME for more information.
Lifetime Contribution to Sonoma County Agriculture
Friday, November 20th, 2009
Congratulations to longtime friend and farmer Lee Walker. Lee is being awarded the “Lifetime Contribution to Sonoma County Agriculture” by the 2008 Sonoma Harvest Fair. The Harvest Fair is an annual showcase of Sonoma’s diverse agricultural bounty and an award from the Fair is consider quite a hallmark among the locals.
Lee has been farming with his family in their Graton, CA apple orchard his whole life, except for a tour in the army and a few years playing pro baseball. Lee, his wife Shirley and their children have been maintaining their business through the thick and the thin skinned times of the apple business. “We’ve been seeing for a long time that if we could just hang in there, the apple business would be a good business,” said Lee. “And now Gravensteins are a specialty item!” Walker Apples has been a champion for the Gravenstein and is a “Presidium Producer” for this wonderful heritage apple.
The Harvest Fair is Oct. 3-5 in Santa Rosa, CA and features contests for Sonoma wines as well has many other fine provisions. There’s a grape stomp, a llama parade, tasting of 500 wines and entertainment for everyone in the family.
Look for Golden Delicious apples from Lee Walker’s orchards in the West Coast Harvest Flyer boxes.
The Pronouncements of Passion
Friday, November 20th, 2009
A cool fall breeze rustled the leaves outside of Peter’s toy-store window. “Pauline,” he piped.” Pat pitched Paul a prototype policy that primes Pat for promotion.” Pauline pulled the penguin puppet away from her proboscis and proclaimed: “Post-protozoan pull-toy and post-primate princess?” She probed. “She’s prolific,” Peter pronounced. “It’s the purple passion fruit,” she posed. “In the FruitGuys West Coast Mix. Patiently wait until shriveling, portion in pieces, spoon out the inside and place in pie-hole. UMM – perfecto.”
John Koman at White Dove Farm grows his one and a-half acres of passion fruit vines across an old lemon orchard. The trees act as a natural trellis. His fruits are always beautiful in their purple way. If you haven’t seen them, they are a bit odd-looking – you might even wonder if they are tiny versions of the pods in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” but don’t fear – they are just fruits and wonderful ones at that. Passion Fruit is a fragrant fruit and is best eaten when cut open and scooped out. They are ripe when the skin looks a bit shriveled. Passion fruits are rich in Vitamins A and C and are a good source of potassium and iron. The seeds are high in fiber as well. (Although to be super honest, I’m fond of the juice in the fruit but not really the seeds themselves, though they are edible.) Check out our video profile of John’s farm here.
Our fruit mixes change by region as we work with local growers in different areas of the United States. This week all crates have lots of pears and apple varieties as we go forward into fall. We had a few questions this week about “those small brown apples” – which are not apples, but Asian Apple Pears. There are multiple varieties of Asian Apple Pears that we include right now and they all taste different. Please check out our website and click on your region to see the mix in your crates and what each fruit is.
Enjoy and be fruitful! chris@fruitguys.com
None of Your Beeswax! (The Get-The-Bees Address)
Friday, November 20th, 2009Four hives and five months ago, The FruitGuys brought forth to Gabriel Farm a prodigious gift of pollination, conceived in the spirit of Farm Stewardship and dedicated to the proposition that all fruits must be fertilized equally or an orchard cannot endure. Dedicated though we are to the ideals of supporting sustainably grown local agriculture, we the people cannot alone consecrate the ground, or the blossoms. That task falls to The Bees, to ensure that these fruits must not perish from the earth.
Ahem.
Torrey Olsen loves his bees! Five months ago, The FruitGuys Farm Steward Program helped install four hives in his Gabriel Farm orchard, and we’re glad to report that the bees are going gangbusters! With the specter of Colony Collapse Disorder hanging over their little heads, Torrey’s super-pollinators have built up their brood so splendidly that a second level (a “super”) recently was added to their quarters on the North side of the orchard. The bees are prepared and producing plenty of honey to sustain their hive during winter, and may produce enough for Torrey to harvest in the spring. Doug Vincent, the beekeeper from BeeKind who helped install the hives, reports that Torrey is now fully schooled in the old-West art of Bee Wrangling, and is doing a great job caring for and keeping his hive safe and productive.
The farming cycle relies on bees as primary pollinators, and Torrey’s bees were busy all spring and summer gathering pollen from the blossoms of his organic apples, Asian apple pears, and banks of lavender. Each female worker bee spends three weeks in the hive cleaning, guarding and nursing the brood; and three weeks in the fields foraging. As autumn approaches, chilly air and shorter days change life in the hive. The male drones are evicted and the trimmed-down colony produces another crop of female workers who will live for six months through the winter, feeding off of stored honey and buzzing to keep the hive warm. Honeybees are the only bee species that survive the seasons as a united colony, huddled together, living off savings, and surviving. Kudos to the consecrators.
To farm sustainably, as Torrey does, takes a lot of effort and support—that’s why we at The FruitGuys are proud to have such supportive customers (that’s you!) who help us give back to the growers we rely on. Thanks to you we’re able to make valuable investments at the farm level, such as these bees, to support the future of sustainable California agriculture. Thanks and bee fruitful.
A Place to Hang Out
Thursday, November 19th, 2009‘Tis the season for Bela Lugosi impressions, fake blood, and rubber bats dangling from doorways. But The FruitGuys has real bats on its mind. On behalf of our vespertilian friends, this week The FruitGuys Farm Steward Program installed bat boxes at the historic Jelich Ranch in Portola Valley, Ca. FruitGuys Bridget Meigs and Dan Lemley built and painted two houses, and Skip Parody, the foreman at Jelich, installed them. Jelich Ranch grows the wonderful organic Bartlett Pears and some of the apples in our west coast crates.
The goal of The FruitGuys Farm Steward Program is “to help the farmers we work with achieve sustainable farming practices,” says program manager Bridget Meigs. Supporting organic farmers benefits everyone from the grower to the customer. “Our farm steward program is one part of our approach to wellness that stretches from where and how things are grown to the people and communities we serve,” said FruitGuys CEO Chris Mittelstaedt.
Bats are important predators for insects that can harm fruit trees and the boxes on the Jelich property will provide additional roosts. Farmers Cindie and Phillip White and their staff have worked hard to maintain their historic ranch poised on the edge of the pacific coast wilds and the metropolis of Silicon Valley. Since buying the 100-year-old orchard from the Jelich family in 2000, the Whites have restored buildings and re-planted orchards. They installed water-saving drip irrigation and qualified for organic certification. They’ve also registered 12 of their 14 acres under the Williamson Act, a legal instrument for conserving agricultural land for future generations.
Preserving open space is key to conservation. So much habitat has been converted to housing that creatures like bats and owls need new homes to survive. Bats normally roost in hollows of old trees, or under bridges, or eaves. They prefer quiet caves or mines for hibernation—if they awake too soon they become too weak to breed.
The bats around Jelich ranch are probably Little Brown Bats, or Myotis lucifugus, one of the most common species in North America. The hope is that the new boxes will encourage the bats to stay, multiply, and vociferously eat mosquitoes and especially the Cottling Moth—a devastating pest to apple growers. The FruitGuys bat boxes were placed high on poles, near water, facing southeast for warm morning sun. Bridget and Dan carefully painted them black with non-toxic paint. Not just to be chic, but to absorb heat. The ideal bat condo is 85 degrees. It may take the bats a few seasons to decide to move into the new digs—but since the Little Browns live up to 34 years, they have time to shop around.
Making a home for bats is a fun and rewarding project. There are many national and local organizations with information on how you could do it. The FruitGuys got kits from the Organization for Bat Conservation . The farmer and author Verlyn Klinkenborg writes about watching the bats near his house in upstate New York return home from their work just before dawn.
“Their flight is less erratic just before roosting, no longer distracted by an insect in the air. It’s as though each bat brings a scrap of night’s darkness home with it, leaving the sky pale and brightening. It’s as though night itself were being stored in the bat house till dusk.”
-Heidi Lewis